innovation
Reports on innovation See all →

Blockchain: An agent of profound change

Blockchain technology could profoundly change how states and governments operate. Its ability to quickly and securely transfer assets could disrupt current institutional frameworks and decentralize power. It is therefore unclear how far states will go to support blockchain, even though it could make their economies and their own operations more efficient. What is certain, however, is that the technology will shift the world’s power structures.

Shortsightedness and stubbornness are holding Europe back
As European leaders rail against “populism,” many of them are taking on populist positions themselves: they are taking a hard line on Brexit, refuse to implement commonsense solutions on public debt, and are bowing to pressure against GMOs. All this will hurt Europe in the long term and diminish its ...


The dawn of a new age in Japan
Japan tends to develop in leaps and bounds – and it looks ready to make another such surge. The transformation of life sciences, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics and big data will lead to a new age in the country. It has the political will and fewer of the ...


Opinion: The benefits of genetically modified organisms
So-called “genetically modified organisms,” or GMOs, are frequently the subject of controversy, mostly because they are misunderstood. Humans have been genetically modifying plants and animals for millennia. Now, new gene-editing methods hold the potential to cure horrible diseases and make food more nutritious, potentially improving millions of lives. Regulation is ...


Blockchain and its potential for economic disruption
Blockchain – a decentralized ledger of transactions that uses computer technology to link, secure and encrypt records – has the potential to become a hugely disruptive technology, rendering financial intermediaries unnecessary and making money transfers nearly instantaneous. However, it requires huge amounts of computing power and still cannot come close ...
